| asperity |
harshness or roughness, especially of tone or manner. |
| atavism |
the recurrence or reappearance of a particular trait, style, attitude, or behavior that seemed to have disappeared, or that which has recurred or reappeared after such an absence. |
| cognomen |
a last name; surname. |
| conclave |
a secret, private, or confidential meeting or gathering. |
| duress |
intimidation or coercion. |
| entreat |
to beg for something, or to do something. |
| gossamer |
delicately fine, gauzelike, or filmy. |
| imbricate |
overlapping in an even sequence, as roof tiles or fish scales. |
| lattice |
a flat framework made with strips of wood or other material. The strips cross each other and have open spaces in between. A lattice is often used as a screen on a porch or in a garden. |
| lenitive |
mitigating pain, discomfort, or distress; soothing. |
| limn |
to paint or draw. |
| parlous |
full of dangers or risks; perilous. |
| pronate |
to turn or rotate (the hand or forearm) so that the palm of the hand faces down or backwards. |
| shyster |
a person, usually a lawyer, who uses underhanded, unethical methods. |
| vouchsafe |
to grant or give with condescension or as a special favor. |